The Enigmatic Alexander Chase

Alexander Chase smirked as he scrolled through his social media feed, reading aloud, “Money has never made man happy, nor will it; there is nothing in its nature to produce happiness.”

He chuckled to himself. "Whoever wrote that must've been either filthy rich or completely delusional."

Rising to his feet, he took a moment to admire the breathtaking cityscape from the top balcony of the Lockwood Family Mansion. The lights below glowed against the fading twilight, a reminder of the wealth and power surrounding him—but none of them were his.

"Money does make a man happy. Crazy money, that is. The real question is, do men, by their very nature, deserve such happiness?" Alexander mused, his voice barely a whisper as he looked out into the night.

After a lingering moment, he turned back toward the mansion, his attention still fixed on his phone. He didn’t notice someone approaching until he bumped into them, almost spilling his drink.

It wasn’t just anyone. Standing before him was Jacob Harrington, the king of Diamond Crest Enterprises, flanked by his assistant, Silvia, and his imposing bodyguard.

“My apologies,” Alexander said, quickly reaching out to wipe the champagne that had splashed onto Jacob’s expensive suit.

Jacob shrugged. “It’s fine.”

But in a flash, the bodyguard's fist slammed into Alexander's stomach, sending him doubling over in pain.

The man sneered, looking down at Alexander’s worn suit and outdated phone with disdain.

“You spilled a drink on my boss and think a simple apology will suffice?” he growled.

Alexander straightened, brushing himself off. “Well, so much for being polite,” he muttered under his breath, rolling his eyes.

“Oh, you think you’re tough, huh?” The bodyguard cracked his knuckles, preparing to teach Alexander a lesson.

“Cool it, tough guy,” Jacob interrupted, holding up a hand. He turned to Alexander. “You alright? Apologies for my bodyguard—he tends to overdo it.”

“I’m fine,” Alexander replied, regaining his composure. As he walked past them, he glanced at Jacob’s wrist. “Nice watch,” he remarked casually.

Silvia, Jacob's assistant, stared after him, her mouth slightly open in shock. Did that man just refer to a thirty-one-million-dollar Valera Chronos as a ‘nice watch’? She thought, baffled.

“Silvia,” Jacob said, intrigued, “who is he?”

“Alexander Chase, sir. He’s part of the Lockwood Family—well, sort of. Just a son-in-law, and apparently not one with any real standing. From what I’ve heard, he has no wealth of his own. He got lucky enough to marry into the family, but beyond that, he’s practically a nobody.”

Jacob’s eyes narrowed. “Interesting. Did you notice anything… unusual about him?”

“Nothing, sir,” Silvia replied. “Except… even at a high-class event like this, he managed to carry the scent of poverty,” she added with a hint of contempt.

“Keep an eye on him,” Jacob instructed, a strange intuition gnawing at him.

As they continued watching, Jacob’s bodyguard felt a sudden sting in his wrist. He looked down to see it was swollen. A memory flashed in his mind—the moment he’d punched Alexander. Suddenly a thought crossed his mind. Had Alexander deflected the blow with his elbow, whilst somehow managing to hit back without anyone noticing?!

No, impossible, he thought, brushing it off. That kind of precision and timing would be… unheard of. It had to be just a coincidence. But either way? Jacob Bodyguard swore to himself to make Alexander pay.

........

.......

 ......

Tonight, the Lockwood Family Mansion was alive with celebration. It was Lady Charlotte Lockwood’s seventieth birthday, and news of the event had traveled fast across the Pantheon Valley.

Family members and esteemed guests from all corners of the valley gathered in the grand hall, paying tribute to the matriarch of the Lockwood Family .

The mansion itself was a spectacle, draped in decorative lights that cast a soft glow over the polished floors and elegant furnishings. The air buzzed with anticipation, heightened by the promise of a memorable evening.

Alexander returned to the hall, settling into his seat beside his wife, Seraphina Lockwood.

“Where have you been?” she whispered, a hint of annoyance in her tone.

“Just getting some fresh air.”

“The air conditioners not good enough for you?” she snapped, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “We’ll discuss this later. They’re about to start the gift-giving ceremony.”

One by one, family members and guests presented Lady Lockwood with lavish gifts, each more extravagant than the last.

“Grandma, as an art lover, I’ve chosen this original ‘Midnight Horizon’ painting by Elias Drevlan for you. It’s worth five hundred thousand dollars,” one said.

“Grandma, I thought you’d appreciate this limited-edition Alarion timepiece, crafted with only the finest materials. It’s valued at seven hundred thousand dollars,” said another.

“Grandma, here’s a necklace made from Lumerian emeralds and flawless diamonds, worth nine hundred thousand dollars.”

Lady Lockwood accepted each gift with a warm smile, her laughter filling the room. The atmosphere was harmonious, a moment of familial pride and unity.

But the real highlight of the evening came when Daniel Lockwood, Lady Lockwood’s favored grandson, stepped forward, holding a small, elegant box made entirely of sapphire crystal. A murmur of anticipation swept through the crowd.

Daniel cleared his throat, pausing for dramatic effect. “My dear grandmother, I present to you… the Azure Star Diamond.”

He lifted the lid of the box, revealing the vivid blue gem. The crowd collectively gasped, mesmerized by the jewel’s beauty.

“Lady Lockwood, this diamond is one of the rarest and most exquisite in the world,” Daniel announced, clearly relishing the attention.

“It weighs twelve-point-three carats and is worth an astonishing forty-eight-point-five million dollars.”

The room erupted in applause as Daniel held the gem aloft, basking in the adulation of the crowd. But as the diamond sparkled under the chandeliers, Alexander remained unmoved, his gaze steady and unimpressed.

Seraphina nudged him, whispering, “Why are you looking at it like that?”

Alexander leaned in, his voice low. “Because it’s a fake.”

“What? Are you serious?” she asked, incredulous.

He nodded, gesturing subtly toward the jewel. “Look closely. The color lacks the depth of the genuine Azure Star Diamond. And the clarity… well, it’s just not there.”

Across the room, Daniel noticed Alexander’s unimpressed look and sneered. “Well, Alexander, care to share your thoughts with the rest of us?” he asked, his tone laced with sarcasm.

All eyes turned to Alexander, some amused, others curious.

Alexander shrugged. “Your Azure Diamond is a fake.”

The crowd gasped, stunned by his audacity.

Daniel’s face twisted in anger. “What the hell are you talking about?”

Lady Lockwood looked at Alexander, a mix of curiosity and disbelief in her expression. “Can you prove it?”

Alexander stepped forward, his gaze locked on the jewel. “Yes, I can.”

He reached into the display case, lifted the diamond, and held it up to the light. The room fell silent, everyone watching as he inspected the gem with a practiced eye.

Then, with a swift motion, he smashed the diamond to the floor.